PARIS -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA, NYSE:ALA), world leaderin intelligent optical networking, announced today that it signed withSichuan Unicom, a subsidiary of China Unicom, an end-to-end opticaltransmission network expansion contract for US$ 20 million. This newcontract makes Alcatel the largest supplier of optical transmission systemsto Sichuan Unicom.Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel will provide Sichuan Unicom withits advanced OptinexTM DWDM/SDH (Dense Wavelength DivisionMultiplexing/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) solutions and networkmanagement systems, covering the provincial, regional and local networklayers."Alcatel’s advanced technology and products help us meet the increasingdemand of our customers. That is why Alcatel has become one of our primesuppliers," said Tong Xiaoyu, general manager of Sichuan Unicom.Alcatel SA